Category Archives: News

Starting with an away-day in 2017, our church council began the process of discerning a five-year vision and strategic plan for Deane Church. We reviewed the previous few years and noted where God was already opening doors. We looked at the needs of our church family and the needs in the wider community.

By April 2018 we had identified eight goals and a further four aims for 2018-2023. These form part of our church mission action plan (MAP) and vision. Our MAP includes a strategic plan of how we intend to achieve our goals. The eight goals for us to prayerfully work towards seeing realised in 2018-23 are:

Three members of Deane congregation commencing training for ordained or lay leadership ministry.

With Lostock Church, to employ full-time youth pastor.

Each of our ministries to men, women, seniors, children and youth having a principal ministry-leader who builds a team and who works with their team to discern a vision for that ministry.

75% of the congregation consistently attending Sunday service or equivalent three times a month.

Twenty home groups and 60% of the congregation regularly attending discipleship courses, home groups or equivalent.

The establishment of a Christians Against Poverty Life Skills Centre and to add to it other courses and ministries such as the Money Course and a Job Club.

The installation of a new kitchen and toilets in the church building completed.

Planned giving rising by 8% each year.

And our four aims are:

Our continuing to play a full part in the development of effective relationships across the Mission Partnership, and especially with Lostock Church with whom we share a minister.

The development of heritage ministry which our 15th century church building lends itself to.

The building of our partnership with Crosslinks (www.crosslinks.org) and other organisations engaged in mission oversees.

The church council will regularly monitor how we are doing in achieving these goals and aims.

We are also keen that in setting goals we don’t miss the ‘man of Macedonia’ moments (Acts 16:6-10) where God might open up a whole area of ministry / mission that we did not anticipate.

We are already well on the way to achieving some of the eight goals but it is just so much activity unless it is held in prayer before the Lord. All of these goals and aims are about building God’s Kingdom, not just growing Deane Church.

Not everything in the MAP will excite everyone in the church family. We all have different things that we are passionate about. But I hope that you will feel able to regularly pray for one or two of the goals and aims.

Are you passionate about seeing young people encounter Jesus Christ? Growing in their knowledge of him? And in their love for him?

Do you enjoy developing the gifts and skills of young people and the volunteers who work with them?

Do you delight in seeing young people take their part in the life of God’s Church and his Kingdom work in this world?

Could God be calling you to take the lead in further developing the youth ministry at Deane Church?

Yes? Then get in touch with us!

Deane Church is a lively, diverse and growing Church of England congregation based in the suburbs of Bolton, Greater Manchester. We just love helping people to meet with Jesus Christ… the way and the truth and the life… and to make the connections between the Bible and our lives. We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and self-motivated Youth Pastor to take the lead with developing our existing ministry among 11s-18s.

Hours: Part-time (20 hours a week)
Salary: £11,000-£13,000
This is a new post, initially for one year, with the hope of extending to three years subject to funding becoming available.

This position is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

As this is a post requiring Christian leadership and teaching, there is a genuine occupational requirement that the postholder has a professed, demonstrated and committed Christian faith. Schedule 9 of the Equalities Act 2010 applies.

Risen Motherhood is a new group for mums of school aged children.

This is a community that will remind you of gospel-truth, no matter how you feel about your motherhood. It’s for the imperfect mother, still learning, still growing and still fully recognising that she doesn’t have it all together, but, we serve a God who does.

Bolton Lunches is a project led by Urban Outreach and supported by lots of different partners and groups. It was set up because over 8500 children are eligible for free school meals, which are not available during the school holidays. Bolton Lunches aims to feed those who would normally have access to those school meals.

Any child of school age (primary or secondary) can come along to Deane Church Centre and collect a free packed lunch Monday – Friday (excluding bank holiday Monday) during the school holidays (23rd July – 31st August).

The packed lunches contain a choice of ham, tuna or cheese sandwich, a juice carton, cereal bar, small packet of cheese snacks and a piece of fruit.

There are a number of other collection points across Bolton too. If you would like more information about the Bolton Lunches project get in touch with Urban Outreach.